Seeing Threes In G.O.O.D. Music’s “Mercy”

We just have one question: did Kanye West style the G.O.O.D. music crew for “Mercy?” In the video for what’s easily one of the most popular songs of the early summer, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Kanye West are all sporting some type of headgear. This has to be Ye’s doing! Attire aside, we’ve watched “Mercy” at least five times in a row. Its left to right camera pans that follow the motions of each rapper is intoxicating.

The first song from the Cruel Summer compilation album, “Mercy,” directed by Nabril, comes two months after its song debut. Not that the illusion is simplistic, it’s not, but less is more when you have racked up a roster like the one G.O.O.D. Music has. There’s no need for poppin’ bottles, renting out an overpriced club and models galore with hair down to their waists. One woman (who looks like Teyana Taylor by the way), a dancing Kid Cudi, one car, and a bunch of rappers dressed like hipster mobsters. No shade, guys. The double and triple images of Yeezy or 2 Chainz is trippy, but it’s also what makes the video worthy of being watched repeatedly.

If you were expecting there to be some sort of theme in “Mercy” then disappointment may start to set in. Anything Kanye West does is not going to be typical or basic. He’s a grandeur dude with elite taste. Imagery doesn’t have to tell a story, that’s why there’s lyrics. A video’s one job is to be visually captivating. And “Mercy” mastered that.